It is remarkable how Dickens caught, in so short a span
of time, this ugly side of our system» It is especially true
of our Presidents. Andrew Jackson fought two duels and kill
ed one man because of slander against his wife. Rarely has
there been an uglier picture than that of gossip directed
against a worthy woman. Today we see a counterpart of those
tactics in the contemptible slanders against Chief Justice
Warren, the Supreme Court, and the Kennedys by fanatic
racists and the Birch-types.
All our Presidents have been subjected to smears and
lies. Grover Cleveland was accused of fathering an illegiti
mate child. There was a flood of abuse and slander against
Franklin D.Roosevelt, largely from those who had benefited
most by his actions.
Our system still is the best. It requires courage to en
ter into it.
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